<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!--XBRL Document Created with the Workiva Platform-->
<!--Copyright 2026 Workiva-->
<!--r:019eff99-e035-7894-ba97-e28d5c641752,g:b128abdb-b23d-4e77-b36b-be51567f0982-->
<link:linkbase xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd">
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://southerncompany.com/role/Cover" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#Cover"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://southerncompany.com/role/Cover" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019eff99-e035-7f49-9551-49782baae498" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentInformationTable_019eff99-e035-75c7-9557-fc801963caee" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_DocumentInformationTable"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_019eff99-e035-7f49-9551-49782baae498" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentInformationTable_019eff99-e035-75c7-9557-fc801963caee" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7838-bf2c-403cd57a1d5c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationTable_019eff99-e035-75c7-9557-fc801963caee" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7838-bf2c-403cd57a1d5c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7d1a-a6f8-fe4fb6df945b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7838-bf2c-403cd57a1d5c" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7d1a-a6f8-fe4fb6df945b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-761e-8f8e-8d2965b0bace" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7d1a-a6f8-fe4fb6df945b" xlink:to="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-761e-8f8e-8d2965b0bace" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_019eff99-e035-7e0e-9869-7ae08d5d01b7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_DocumentInformationLineItems"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationTable_019eff99-e035-75c7-9557-fc801963caee" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_019eff99-e035-7e0e-9869-7ae08d5d01b7" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_019eff99-e035-7a39-9beb-33a1a4b441db" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_DocumentType"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_019eff99-e035-7e0e-9869-7ae08d5d01b7" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_019eff99-e035-7a39-9beb-33a1a4b441db" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_019eff99-e035-7d48-bd0c-3b51753c6738" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_019eff99-e035-7e0e-9869-7ae08d5d01b7" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_019eff99-e035-7d48-bd0c-3b51753c6738" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_019eff99-e035-73da-a1a2-c8f7a7f7bef8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_019eff99-e035-7e0e-9869-7ae08d5d01b7" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_019eff99-e035-73da-a1a2-c8f7a7f7bef8" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_019eff99-e035-7a76-be81-a241c1393424" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_019eff99-e035-7e0e-9869-7ae08d5d01b7" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_019eff99-e035-7a76-be81-a241c1393424" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_019eff99-e035-7fa1-ae70-e7c422c6fcdc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="5" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_019eff99-e035-7e0e-9869-7ae08d5d01b7" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_019eff99-e035-7fa1-ae70-e7c422c6fcdc" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://southerncompany.com/role/StatementsofNetAssetsAvailableforBenefits" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#StatementsofNetAssetsAvailableforBenefits"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://southerncompany.com/role/StatementsofNetAssetsAvailableforBenefits" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitAbstract_019eff99-e035-7bb7-88f4-f928bc11c92c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitTable_019eff99-e035-7a72-951e-80b130f67907" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitTable"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitAbstract_019eff99-e035-7bb7-88f4-f928bc11c92c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitTable_019eff99-e035-7a72-951e-80b130f67907" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-76fc-8a3b-232dcc963ec9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitTable_019eff99-e035-7a72-951e-80b130f67907" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-76fc-8a3b-232dcc963ec9" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7c45-97d5-69903d93c8fb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-76fc-8a3b-232dcc963ec9" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7c45-97d5-69903d93c8fb" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7a1a-b0dc-df2dd010b118" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7c45-97d5-69903d93c8fb" xlink:to="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7a1a-b0dc-df2dd010b118" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019eff99-e035-7a27-94f8-1b70dedc1093" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitTable_019eff99-e035-7a72-951e-80b130f67907" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019eff99-e035-7a27-94f8-1b70dedc1093" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue_019eff99-e035-7667-ae4f-a32e19ad559d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019eff99-e035-7a27-94f8-1b70dedc1093" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue_019eff99-e035-7667-ae4f-a32e19ad559d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipant_019eff99-e035-7597-b4dd-605f27fa95f4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipant"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019eff99-e035-7a27-94f8-1b70dedc1093" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipant_019eff99-e035-7597-b4dd-605f27fa95f4" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanCash_019eff99-e035-7d36-bef7-f5f28f78a773" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanCash"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019eff99-e035-7a27-94f8-1b70dedc1093" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanCash_019eff99-e035-7d36-bef7-f5f28f78a773" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefit_019eff99-e035-7651-b5e3-d3a748705e7d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefit"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019eff99-e035-7a27-94f8-1b70dedc1093" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefit_019eff99-e035-7651-b5e3-d3a748705e7d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/totalLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://southerncompany.com/role/StatementofChangesinNetAssetAvailableforBenefits" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#StatementofChangesinNetAssetAvailableforBenefits"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://southerncompany.com/role/StatementofChangesinNetAssetAvailableforBenefits" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitAbstract_019eff99-e035-7346-9788-1880f91dc8d1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitTable_019eff99-e035-79a7-a3f6-36580f8e385b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitTable"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitAbstract_019eff99-e035-7346-9788-1880f91dc8d1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitTable_019eff99-e035-79a7-a3f6-36580f8e385b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7269-8508-c7e8c649c1d2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitTable_019eff99-e035-79a7-a3f6-36580f8e385b" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7269-8508-c7e8c649c1d2" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7989-be59-545bed81f907" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7269-8508-c7e8c649c1d2" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7989-be59-545bed81f907" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7379-9ec5-1f7e6ea862a2" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7989-be59-545bed81f907" xlink:to="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7379-9ec5-1f7e6ea862a2" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019eff99-e035-7673-bedd-0e5577623342" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitTable_019eff99-e035-79a7-a3f6-36580f8e385b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019eff99-e035-7673-bedd-0e5577623342" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseAbstract_019eff99-e035-7f4a-99ff-668b606aa48e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseAbstract"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019eff99-e035-7673-bedd-0e5577623342" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseAbstract_019eff99-e035-7f4a-99ff-668b606aa48e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContributionAbstract_019eff99-e035-7c95-85ee-db64277835ea" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContributionAbstract"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseAbstract_019eff99-e035-7f4a-99ff-668b606aa48e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContributionAbstract_019eff99-e035-7c95-85ee-db64277835ea" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForParticipantContributionExcludingRollover_019eff99-e035-79db-90d1-518ec4859487" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForParticipantContributionExcludingRollover"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContributionAbstract_019eff99-e035-7c95-85ee-db64277835ea" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForParticipantContributionExcludingRollover_019eff99-e035-79db-90d1-518ec4859487" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForParticipantContributionRollover_019eff99-e035-737f-a620-1e2924111233" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForParticipantContributionRollover"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContributionAbstract_019eff99-e035-7c95-85ee-db64277835ea" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForParticipantContributionRollover_019eff99-e035-737f-a620-1e2924111233" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForEmployerContribution_019eff99-e035-724e-a9d1-29163df49045" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForEmployerContribution"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContributionAbstract_019eff99-e035-7c95-85ee-db64277835ea" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForEmployerContribution_019eff99-e035-724e-a9d1-29163df49045" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContribution_019eff99-e035-716d-9108-bafd47dc7ea2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContribution"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContributionAbstract_019eff99-e035-7c95-85ee-db64277835ea" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForContribution_019eff99-e035-716d-9108-bafd47dc7ea2" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/totalLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForInterestIncomeOnNoteReceivableFromParticipant_019eff99-e035-7654-a2bc-1a9edea288d9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForInterestIncomeOnNoteReceivableFromParticipant"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseAbstract_019eff99-e035-7f4a-99ff-668b606aa48e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForInterestIncomeOnNoteReceivableFromParticipant_019eff99-e035-7654-a2bc-1a9edea288d9" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForIncomeLossOnInvestmentAbstract_019eff99-e035-74d9-ac0f-005d1ca1143b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForIncomeLossOnInvestmentAbstract"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseAbstract_019eff99-e035-7f4a-99ff-668b606aa48e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForIncomeLossOnInvestmentAbstract_019eff99-e035-74d9-ac0f-005d1ca1143b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForInterestAndDividendIncomeOnInvestment_019eff99-e035-7632-b48a-990b86c81355" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForInterestAndDividendIncomeOnInvestment"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForIncomeLossOnInvestmentAbstract_019eff99-e035-74d9-ac0f-005d1ca1143b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForInterestAndDividendIncomeOnInvestment_019eff99-e035-7632-b48a-990b86c81355" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForGainLossOnInvestment_019eff99-e035-770a-985b-2141e035b597" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForGainLossOnInvestment"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForIncomeLossOnInvestmentAbstract_019eff99-e035-74d9-ac0f-005d1ca1143b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForGainLossOnInvestment_019eff99-e035-770a-985b-2141e035b597" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForIncomeLossOnInvestment_019eff99-e035-7c62-b28a-c294a7c99af0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForIncomeLossOnInvestment"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForIncomeLossOnInvestmentAbstract_019eff99-e035-74d9-ac0f-005d1ca1143b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecreaseForIncomeLossOnInvestment_019eff99-e035-7c62-b28a-c294a7c99af0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/totalLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncrease_019eff99-e035-7a01-ac68-ad6e3e8d0667" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncrease"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseAbstract_019eff99-e035-7f4a-99ff-668b606aa48e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncrease_019eff99-e035-7a01-ac68-ad6e3e8d0667" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/totalLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseAbstract_019eff99-e035-760c-af75-4e481c06c390" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseAbstract"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019eff99-e035-7673-bedd-0e5577623342" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseAbstract_019eff99-e035-760c-af75-4e481c06c390" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseForPaymentToParticipant_019eff99-e035-756f-92ba-bcbcdb56fbae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseForPaymentToParticipant"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseAbstract_019eff99-e035-760c-af75-4e481c06c390" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseForPaymentToParticipant_019eff99-e035-756f-92ba-bcbcdb56fbae" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/verboseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseForAdministrativeExpense_019eff99-e035-7a4e-be96-b61cca2a463f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseForAdministrativeExpense"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseAbstract_019eff99-e035-760c-af75-4e481c06c390" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseForAdministrativeExpense_019eff99-e035-7a4e-be96-b61cca2a463f" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecrease_019eff99-e035-73ec-a242-f07c265517a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecrease"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecreaseAbstract_019eff99-e035-760c-af75-4e481c06c390" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitDecrease_019eff99-e035-73ec-a242-f07c265517a2" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/totalLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecrease_019eff99-e035-77da-8f7e-fa2e9de369ba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecrease"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019eff99-e035-7673-bedd-0e5577623342" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseDecrease_019eff99-e035-77da-8f7e-fa2e9de369ba" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/totalLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefitAbstract_019eff99-e035-764b-aae7-63f272ab4023" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefitAbstract"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanStatementOfChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitLineItems_019eff99-e035-7673-bedd-0e5577623342" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefitAbstract_019eff99-e035-764b-aae7-63f272ab4023" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefit_019eff99-e035-787d-a016-3ce919579ee6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefit"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefitAbstract_019eff99-e035-764b-aae7-63f272ab4023" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefit_019eff99-e035-787d-a016-3ce919579ee6" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/periodStartLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefit_019eff99-e035-7594-9eb3-35132f7c202b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefit"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefitAbstract_019eff99-e035-764b-aae7-63f272ab4023" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNetAssetAvailableForBenefit_019eff99-e035-7594-9eb3-35132f7c202b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/periodEndLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://southerncompany.com/role/DescriptionofthePlan" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#DescriptionofthePlan"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://southerncompany.com/role/DescriptionofthePlan" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanAbstract_019eff99-e035-783f-be86-003e3f6190f1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable_019eff99-e035-7103-b896-e0f1fbb6e3d6" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanAbstract_019eff99-e035-783f-be86-003e3f6190f1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable_019eff99-e035-7103-b896-e0f1fbb6e3d6" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7f5d-8db0-a1d3c4326cd1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable_019eff99-e035-7103-b896-e0f1fbb6e3d6" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7f5d-8db0-a1d3c4326cd1" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7f66-ba5a-d83f83bdef0a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7f5d-8db0-a1d3c4326cd1" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7f66-ba5a-d83f83bdef0a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-731c-8ff6-2606df93edd3" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7f66-ba5a-d83f83bdef0a" xlink:to="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-731c-8ff6-2606df93edd3" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019eff99-e035-75c5-8f03-8bf7d237a4a0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable_019eff99-e035-7103-b896-e0f1fbb6e3d6" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019eff99-e035-75c5-8f03-8bf7d237a4a0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTextBlock_019eff99-e035-7083-8471-3743dd11e336" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTextBlock"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019eff99-e035-75c5-8f03-8bf7d237a4a0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTextBlock_019eff99-e035-7083-8471-3743dd11e336" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://southerncompany.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPolicies" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#SummaryofSignificantAccountingPolicies"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://southerncompany.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPolicies" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyAbstract_019eff99-e035-7c59-98a9-d3e6354645f0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyTable_019eff99-e035-77b7-8e94-90bf0a8b92a8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyTable"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyAbstract_019eff99-e035-7c59-98a9-d3e6354645f0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyTable_019eff99-e035-77b7-8e94-90bf0a8b92a8" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7fa3-bd37-c5d35a348917" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyTable_019eff99-e035-77b7-8e94-90bf0a8b92a8" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7fa3-bd37-c5d35a348917" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7f78-9608-c99123d42d83" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7fa3-bd37-c5d35a348917" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7f78-9608-c99123d42d83" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7871-a2a1-6b7441763ad9" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7f78-9608-c99123d42d83" xlink:to="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7871-a2a1-6b7441763ad9" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019eff99-e035-7e78-82dc-ac0bb81bd6bb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyTable_019eff99-e035-77b7-8e94-90bf0a8b92a8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019eff99-e035-7e78-82dc-ac0bb81bd6bb" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSummaryOfAccountingPolicyTextBlock_019eff99-e035-7942-9615-7b102d87b9dc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSummaryOfAccountingPolicyTextBlock"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019eff99-e035-7e78-82dc-ac0bb81bd6bb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSummaryOfAccountingPolicyTextBlock_019eff99-e035-7942-9615-7b102d87b9dc" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://southerncompany.com/role/FairValueMeasurements" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#FairValueMeasurements"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://southerncompany.com/role/FairValueMeasurements" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavAbstract_019eff99-e035-7534-a3f8-e34acb9f70da" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019eff99-e035-7586-b9c4-c475167b845c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavAbstract_019eff99-e035-7534-a3f8-e34acb9f70da" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019eff99-e035-7586-b9c4-c475167b845c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-741b-89f1-28243416ce65" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019eff99-e035-7586-b9c4-c475167b845c" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-741b-89f1-28243416ce65" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-73fb-8f2f-86d028f80e6e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-741b-89f1-28243416ce65" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-73fb-8f2f-86d028f80e6e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7860-95a5-c28cc63dd049" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-73fb-8f2f-86d028f80e6e" xlink:to="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7860-95a5-c28cc63dd049" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems_019eff99-e035-7678-b7ee-24a4d172f43e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019eff99-e035-7586-b9c4-c475167b845c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems_019eff99-e035-7678-b7ee-24a4d172f43e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTextBlock_019eff99-e035-7b41-9255-0d7b85b19592" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTextBlock"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems_019eff99-e035-7678-b7ee-24a4d172f43e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTextBlock_019eff99-e035-7b41-9255-0d7b85b19592" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://southerncompany.com/role/IncomeTaxStatus" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#IncomeTaxStatus"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://southerncompany.com/role/IncomeTaxStatus" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanTaxStatusAbstract_019eff99-e035-7d70-9e90-7e84717dab3a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanTaxStatusAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanTaxStatusTable_019eff99-e035-7f97-9cef-946a13e7778e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanTaxStatusTable"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanTaxStatusAbstract_019eff99-e035-7d70-9e90-7e84717dab3a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanTaxStatusTable_019eff99-e035-7f97-9cef-946a13e7778e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7e18-aa3f-e277e50f3b74" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanTaxStatusTable_019eff99-e035-7f97-9cef-946a13e7778e" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7e18-aa3f-e277e50f3b74" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-771b-a3fa-2c766d165931" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7e18-aa3f-e277e50f3b74" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-771b-a3fa-2c766d165931" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-77f1-a910-b747465252e0" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-771b-a3fa-2c766d165931" xlink:to="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-77f1-a910-b747465252e0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanTaxStatusLineItems_019eff99-e035-761c-a9bb-3b6916a1a1cd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanTaxStatusLineItems"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanTaxStatusTable_019eff99-e035-7f97-9cef-946a13e7778e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanTaxStatusLineItems_019eff99-e035-761c-a9bb-3b6916a1a1cd" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanTaxStatusTextBlock_019eff99-e035-7bc9-a511-dcb7405a8a01" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanTaxStatusTextBlock"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanTaxStatusLineItems_019eff99-e035-761c-a9bb-3b6916a1a1cd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanTaxStatusTextBlock_019eff99-e035-7bc9-a511-dcb7405a8a01" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://southerncompany.com/role/RelatedPartyandPartyInInterestTransactions" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#RelatedPartyandPartyInInterestTransactions"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://southerncompany.com/role/RelatedPartyandPartyInInterestTransactions" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsAbstract_019eff99-e035-7cc3-ba01-ec09809cc1ae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019eff99-e035-73cb-b6b0-5777041289e0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsAbstract_019eff99-e035-7cc3-ba01-ec09809cc1ae" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019eff99-e035-73cb-b6b0-5777041289e0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7aea-9418-9324c82a4208" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019eff99-e035-73cb-b6b0-5777041289e0" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7aea-9418-9324c82a4208" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7cd7-b601-c74fe6ef9c0d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7aea-9418-9324c82a4208" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7cd7-b601-c74fe6ef9c0d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7fa0-9347-a8cb8d59af1a" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7cd7-b601-c74fe6ef9c0d" xlink:to="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7fa0-9347-a8cb8d59af1a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019eff99-e035-710f-8bd9-ba5e0d31163c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019eff99-e035-73cb-b6b0-5777041289e0" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019eff99-e035-710f-8bd9-ba5e0d31163c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTextBlock_019eff99-e035-71fb-8c02-d4b4fc869186" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTextBlock"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019eff99-e035-710f-8bd9-ba5e0d31163c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTextBlock_019eff99-e035-71fb-8c02-d4b4fc869186" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://southerncompany.com/role/RisksandUncertainties" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#RisksandUncertainties"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://southerncompany.com/role/RisksandUncertainties" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpRiskAndUncertaintyAbstract_019eff99-e035-7411-9046-47fb3aa9042c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EbpRiskAndUncertaintyAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpRiskAndUncertaintyTable_019eff99-e035-7ce2-93d4-ef4ad65d90bd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EbpRiskAndUncertaintyTable"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpRiskAndUncertaintyAbstract_019eff99-e035-7411-9046-47fb3aa9042c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpRiskAndUncertaintyTable_019eff99-e035-7ce2-93d4-ef4ad65d90bd" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-705e-8ac6-97f9ffb18fee" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpRiskAndUncertaintyTable_019eff99-e035-7ce2-93d4-ef4ad65d90bd" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-705e-8ac6-97f9ffb18fee" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-74ed-837f-1f51e9fc2795" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-705e-8ac6-97f9ffb18fee" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-74ed-837f-1f51e9fc2795" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-713f-9685-222783618597" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-74ed-837f-1f51e9fc2795" xlink:to="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-713f-9685-222783618597" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpRiskAndUncertaintyLineItems_019eff99-e035-7280-af1d-f55dff7680d1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EbpRiskAndUncertaintyLineItems"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpRiskAndUncertaintyTable_019eff99-e035-7ce2-93d4-ef4ad65d90bd" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpRiskAndUncertaintyLineItems_019eff99-e035-7280-af1d-f55dff7680d1" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRiskAndUncertaintyTextBlock_019eff99-e035-79a1-8972-e067d0b8f9af" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRiskAndUncertaintyTextBlock"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpRiskAndUncertaintyLineItems_019eff99-e035-7280-af1d-f55dff7680d1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRiskAndUncertaintyTextBlock_019eff99-e035-79a1-8972-e067d0b8f9af" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://southerncompany.com/role/SubsequentEvents" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#SubsequentEvents"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://southerncompany.com/role/SubsequentEvents" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpSubsequentEventAbstract_019eff99-e035-72da-957b-ceb5445eea3c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EbpSubsequentEventAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpSubsequentEventTable_019eff99-e035-7ce9-b725-4269fb9f1eee" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EbpSubsequentEventTable"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpSubsequentEventAbstract_019eff99-e035-72da-957b-ceb5445eea3c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpSubsequentEventTable_019eff99-e035-7ce9-b725-4269fb9f1eee" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7f08-9ce1-f22c87438153" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpSubsequentEventTable_019eff99-e035-7ce9-b725-4269fb9f1eee" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7f08-9ce1-f22c87438153" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7ab0-95e2-351ea926dda5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7f08-9ce1-f22c87438153" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7ab0-95e2-351ea926dda5" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-75bc-9822-62c90b7c1cf3" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7ab0-95e2-351ea926dda5" xlink:to="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-75bc-9822-62c90b7c1cf3" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpSubsequentEventLineItems_019eff99-e035-73ed-a4da-345bb712fe31" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EbpSubsequentEventLineItems"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpSubsequentEventTable_019eff99-e035-7ce9-b725-4269fb9f1eee" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpSubsequentEventLineItems_019eff99-e035-73ed-a4da-345bb712fe31" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSubsequentEventTextBlock_019eff99-e035-7b5c-b868-e2ef19428948" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSubsequentEventTextBlock"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EbpSubsequentEventLineItems_019eff99-e035-73ed-a4da-345bb712fe31" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSubsequentEventTextBlock_019eff99-e035-7b5c-b868-e2ef19428948" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://southerncompany.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://southerncompany.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyAbstract_019eff99-e035-79f9-aee0-a67cf144a558" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyTable_019eff99-e035-76e0-8f99-5c386a8ee664" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyTable"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyAbstract_019eff99-e035-79f9-aee0-a67cf144a558" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyTable_019eff99-e035-76e0-8f99-5c386a8ee664" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-72f1-8a1a-c668296a2276" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyTable_019eff99-e035-76e0-8f99-5c386a8ee664" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-72f1-8a1a-c668296a2276" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7166-a044-3736ef623531" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-72f1-8a1a-c668296a2276" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7166-a044-3736ef623531" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7d10-9e0c-f48294e21c3c" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7166-a044-3736ef623531" xlink:to="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7d10-9e0c-f48294e21c3c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019eff99-e035-705b-84c8-293187917a26" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyTable_019eff99-e035-76e0-8f99-5c386a8ee664" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019eff99-e035-705b-84c8-293187917a26" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionPolicyTextBlock_019eff99-e035-70b5-9859-cfd43b32235e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionPolicyTextBlock"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019eff99-e035-705b-84c8-293187917a26" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanContributionPolicyTextBlock_019eff99-e035-70b5-9859-cfd43b32235e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanBasisOfAccountingPolicyTextBlock_019eff99-e035-73fe-ba27-0ad047754a85" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanBasisOfAccountingPolicyTextBlock"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019eff99-e035-705b-84c8-293187917a26" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanBasisOfAccountingPolicyTextBlock_019eff99-e035-73fe-ba27-0ad047754a85" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanUseOfEstimatePolicyTextBlock_019eff99-e035-7dea-a212-c5a8ffa41c1a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanUseOfEstimatePolicyTextBlock"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019eff99-e035-705b-84c8-293187917a26" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanUseOfEstimatePolicyTextBlock_019eff99-e035-7dea-a212-c5a8ffa41c1a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentPolicyTextBlock_019eff99-e035-730c-a263-b131a4403b8a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentPolicyTextBlock"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019eff99-e035-705b-84c8-293187917a26" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentPolicyTextBlock_019eff99-e035-730c-a263-b131a4403b8a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanPaymentToParticipantPolicyTextBlock_019eff99-e035-7157-8eef-5bf52ee28c01" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanPaymentToParticipantPolicyTextBlock"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="5" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019eff99-e035-705b-84c8-293187917a26" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanPaymentToParticipantPolicyTextBlock_019eff99-e035-7157-8eef-5bf52ee28c01" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantPolicyTextBlock_019eff99-e035-7950-aae3-eef816dbc135" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantPolicyTextBlock"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="6" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyLineItems_019eff99-e035-705b-84c8-293187917a26" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantPolicyTextBlock_019eff99-e035-7950-aae3-eef816dbc135" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://southerncompany.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#FairValueMeasurementsTables"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://southerncompany.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsTables" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavAbstract_019eff99-e035-796a-a280-553eec20acdb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019eff99-e035-7086-9688-63211aa54dad" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavAbstract_019eff99-e035-796a-a280-553eec20acdb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019eff99-e035-7086-9688-63211aa54dad" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7dcb-8cf8-07870d1a09e3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019eff99-e035-7086-9688-63211aa54dad" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7dcb-8cf8-07870d1a09e3" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7d5c-abd3-c28508e5cd39" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7dcb-8cf8-07870d1a09e3" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7d5c-abd3-c28508e5cd39" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7617-834c-f124c3fa4f16" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7d5c-abd3-c28508e5cd39" xlink:to="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7617-834c-f124c3fa4f16" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems_019eff99-e035-71b9-bfd1-c17bd8fafa01" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019eff99-e035-7086-9688-63211aa54dad" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems_019eff99-e035-71b9-bfd1-c17bd8fafa01" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTableTextBlock_019eff99-e035-70cc-807f-3e43a7684114" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTableTextBlock"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems_019eff99-e035-71b9-bfd1-c17bd8fafa01" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTableTextBlock_019eff99-e035-70cc-807f-3e43a7684114" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://southerncompany.com/role/ScheduleHLine4iScheduleofInvestmentsTables" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#ScheduleHLine4iScheduleofInvestmentsTables"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://southerncompany.com/role/ScheduleHLine4iScheduleofInvestmentsTables" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentAbstract_019eff99-e035-79f8-abaf-eeb339e27446" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019eff99-e035-79ee-9d96-098ce08f73f8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentAbstract_019eff99-e035-79f8-abaf-eeb339e27446" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019eff99-e035-79ee-9d96-098ce08f73f8" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7ab4-920b-2e40688aaf19" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019eff99-e035-79ee-9d96-098ce08f73f8" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7ab4-920b-2e40688aaf19" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7790-84a8-1c98156dd07d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7ab4-920b-2e40688aaf19" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7790-84a8-1c98156dd07d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7d19-be5f-a11923d7136b" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-7790-84a8-1c98156dd07d" xlink:to="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7d19-be5f-a11923d7136b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019eff99-e035-7bc7-88a4-5cde6d7ef69e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019eff99-e035-79ee-9d96-098ce08f73f8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019eff99-e035-7bc7-88a4-5cde6d7ef69e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTableTextBlock_019eff99-e035-7966-8efb-738aa452e145" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTableTextBlock"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019eff99-e035-7bc7-88a4-5cde6d7ef69e" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTableTextBlock_019eff99-e035-7966-8efb-738aa452e145" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://southerncompany.com/role/DescriptionofthePlanDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#DescriptionofthePlanDetails"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://southerncompany.com/role/DescriptionofthePlanDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanAbstract_019eff99-e035-7aa5-a9b4-7fa85d030633" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable_019eff99-e035-7a09-80e3-f60a66bc6850" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanAbstract_019eff99-e035-7aa5-a9b4-7fa85d030633" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable_019eff99-e035-7a09-80e3-f60a66bc6850" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019eff99-e035-7226-b63c-8721a946c5b8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable_019eff99-e035-7a09-80e3-f60a66bc6850" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019eff99-e035-7226-b63c-8721a946c5b8" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019eff99-e035-7a14-b5b7-1675089eb23d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019eff99-e035-7226-b63c-8721a946c5b8" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019eff99-e035-7a14-b5b7-1675089eb23d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019eff99-e035-740c-a3f7-427dc1117621" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019eff99-e035-7a14-b5b7-1675089eb23d" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019eff99-e035-740c-a3f7-427dc1117621" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019eff99-e035-7e7f-8601-4de6b73ec50f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MaximumMember"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019eff99-e035-7a14-b5b7-1675089eb23d" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019eff99-e035-7e7f-8601-4de6b73ec50f" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7417-b6eb-6151ed26fa40" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable_019eff99-e035-7a09-80e3-f60a66bc6850" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7417-b6eb-6151ed26fa40" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-726d-8891-0a10c9a98940" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7417-b6eb-6151ed26fa40" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-726d-8891-0a10c9a98940" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7385-a21c-ace5d8bae842" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-726d-8891-0a10c9a98940" xlink:to="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7385-a21c-ace5d8bae842" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019eff99-e035-7a18-97d5-8f8fb8671ffb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanTable_019eff99-e035-7a09-80e3-f60a66bc6850" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019eff99-e035-7a18-97d5-8f8fb8671ffb" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantContributionPretaxMaximumAnnualCompensationToTotalCompensationPercentage_019eff99-e035-730b-b3cb-7f25d1174833" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantContributionPretaxMaximumAnnualCompensationToTotalCompensationPercentage"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019eff99-e035-7a18-97d5-8f8fb8671ffb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantContributionPretaxMaximumAnnualCompensationToTotalCompensationPercentage_019eff99-e035-730b-b3cb-7f25d1174833" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerContributionMatchingPercentage_019eff99-e035-7933-9982-b8bbcc8dbc09" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerContributionMatchingPercentage"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019eff99-e035-7a18-97d5-8f8fb8671ffb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerContributionMatchingPercentage_019eff99-e035-7933-9982-b8bbcc8dbc09" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerContributionParticipantCompensationMatchedPercentage_019eff99-e035-7434-a477-d1c1f4925de8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerContributionParticipantCompensationMatchedPercentage"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019eff99-e035-7a18-97d5-8f8fb8671ffb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerContributionParticipantCompensationMatchedPercentage_019eff99-e035-7434-a477-d1c1f4925de8" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBPInvestmentContributionMinimumIncrementPercent_019eff99-e035-7b6e-890e-94149b58d962" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBPInvestmentContributionMinimumIncrementPercent"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019eff99-e035-7a18-97d5-8f8fb8671ffb" xlink:to="loc_so_EBPInvestmentContributionMinimumIncrementPercent_019eff99-e035-7b6e-890e-94149b58d962" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMinimumBorrowingAmount_019eff99-e035-7be3-991f-4b5f7594e82e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMinimumBorrowingAmount"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="5" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019eff99-e035-7a18-97d5-8f8fb8671ffb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMinimumBorrowingAmount_019eff99-e035-7be3-991f-4b5f7594e82e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMaximumBorrowingAmount_019eff99-e035-72e6-b81e-cdf3fbc9f11b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMaximumBorrowingAmount"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="6" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019eff99-e035-7a18-97d5-8f8fb8671ffb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMaximumBorrowingAmount_019eff99-e035-72e6-b81e-cdf3fbc9f11b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMaximumBorrowingToTotalAccountPercentage_019eff99-e035-78e1-af65-e20a6844f79c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMaximumBorrowingToTotalAccountPercentage"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="7" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019eff99-e035-7a18-97d5-8f8fb8671ffb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMaximumBorrowingToTotalAccountPercentage_019eff99-e035-78e1-af65-e20a6844f79c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBPNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountBorrowingTerm_019eff99-e035-776a-963b-1f72fe3886ef" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBPNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountBorrowingTerm"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="8" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019eff99-e035-7a18-97d5-8f8fb8671ffb" xlink:to="loc_so_EBPNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountBorrowingTerm_019eff99-e035-776a-963b-1f72fe3886ef" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBPNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountPrimaryResidenceMaximumBorrowingTerm_019eff99-e035-740f-a9a5-b76bfec9ec11" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBPNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountPrimaryResidenceMaximumBorrowingTerm"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="9" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019eff99-e035-7a18-97d5-8f8fb8671ffb" xlink:to="loc_so_EBPNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountPrimaryResidenceMaximumBorrowingTerm_019eff99-e035-740f-a9a5-b76bfec9ec11" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBPBenefitPaymentsAnnualInstallmentsOrLumpSumReceivableTerm_019eff99-e035-760c-8be8-db3cc5d8b6e2" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBPBenefitPaymentsAnnualInstallmentsOrLumpSumReceivableTerm"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="10" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019eff99-e035-7a18-97d5-8f8fb8671ffb" xlink:to="loc_so_EBPBenefitPaymentsAnnualInstallmentsOrLumpSumReceivableTerm_019eff99-e035-760c-8be8-db3cc5d8b6e2" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBPBenefitPaymentsDividendPayableTerm_019eff99-e035-7c7a-ac37-efd92119f197" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBPBenefitPaymentsDividendPayableTerm"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="11" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019eff99-e035-7a18-97d5-8f8fb8671ffb" xlink:to="loc_so_EBPBenefitPaymentsDividendPayableTerm_019eff99-e035-7c7a-ac37-efd92119f197" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantContributionAutomaticDeferralRate_019eff99-e035-7cc5-8c8b-3418b47b352d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantContributionAutomaticDeferralRate"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="12" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems_019eff99-e035-7a18-97d5-8f8fb8671ffb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantContributionAutomaticDeferralRate_019eff99-e035-7cc5-8c8b-3418b47b352d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://southerncompany.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://southerncompany.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyAbstract_019eff99-e035-7149-9189-dd23061f1e28" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAccountingPolicyAbstract"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://southerncompany.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#FairValueMeasurementsDetails"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://southerncompany.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavAbstract_019eff99-e035-7859-8c67-581d163a0768" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019eff99-e035-7e32-bb0c-a64bc53f828d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavAbstract_019eff99-e035-7859-8c67-581d163a0768" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019eff99-e035-7e32-bb0c-a64bc53f828d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019eff99-e035-7b06-8193-6146d9e1fc5f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019eff99-e035-7e32-bb0c-a64bc53f828d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019eff99-e035-7b06-8193-6146d9e1fc5f" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019eff99-e035-72ee-a0b5-e02d97f922a9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis_019eff99-e035-7b06-8193-6146d9e1fc5f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019eff99-e035-72ee-a0b5-e02d97f922a9" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_019eff99-e035-784b-ab61-159fbcdd24a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019eff99-e035-72ee-a0b5-e02d97f922a9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member_019eff99-e035-784b-ab61-159fbcdd24a2" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_019eff99-e035-7706-bcab-3d238ffc4374" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019eff99-e035-72ee-a0b5-e02d97f922a9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member_019eff99-e035-7706-bcab-3d238ffc4374" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel12And3Member_019eff99-e035-7ac5-8923-dba1633b8d9d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel12And3Member"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019eff99-e035-72ee-a0b5-e02d97f922a9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel12And3Member_019eff99-e035-7ac5-8923-dba1633b8d9d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasuredAtNetAssetValuePerShareMember_019eff99-e035-72c2-af1c-c81ec1e885ed" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_FairValueMeasuredAtNetAssetValuePerShareMember"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsFairValueHierarchyDomain_019eff99-e035-72ee-a0b5-e02d97f922a9" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_FairValueMeasuredAtNetAssetValuePerShareMember_019eff99-e035-72c2-af1c-c81ec1e885ed" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019eff99-e035-7377-a44a-6c874516bcba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019eff99-e035-7e32-bb0c-a64bc53f828d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019eff99-e035-7377-a44a-6c874516bcba" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019eff99-e035-7b0b-8ab4-68fc27c9b774" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019eff99-e035-7377-a44a-6c874516bcba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019eff99-e035-7b0b-8ab4-68fc27c9b774" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_019eff99-e035-7a0f-af7d-a097408f3e88" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019eff99-e035-7b0b-8ab4-68fc27c9b774" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_019eff99-e035-7a0f-af7d-a097408f3e88" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember_019eff99-e035-7f7a-90c7-bcf27f620700" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019eff99-e035-7b0b-8ab4-68fc27c9b774" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember_019eff99-e035-7f7a-90c7-bcf27f620700" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSelfDirectedBrokerageAccountMember_019eff99-e035-756f-9bf1-84fc48d66016" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSelfDirectedBrokerageAccountMember"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019eff99-e035-7b0b-8ab4-68fc27c9b774" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSelfDirectedBrokerageAccountMember_019eff99-e035-756f-9bf1-84fc48d66016" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanCommonCollectiveTrustMember_019eff99-e035-731e-a4b3-c78e2a038ac0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanCommonCollectiveTrustMember"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019eff99-e035-7b0b-8ab4-68fc27c9b774" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanCommonCollectiveTrustMember_019eff99-e035-731e-a4b3-c78e2a038ac0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-73d5-8021-4e8d60cf33db" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019eff99-e035-7e32-bb0c-a64bc53f828d" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-73d5-8021-4e8d60cf33db" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-77e4-9831-afedd73f6e67" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-73d5-8021-4e8d60cf33db" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-77e4-9831-afedd73f6e67" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7013-8267-334a62eea991" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-77e4-9831-afedd73f6e67" xlink:to="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7013-8267-334a62eea991" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems_019eff99-e035-767b-8e8e-5a3144c0a4b8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavTable_019eff99-e035-7e32-bb0c-a64bc53f828d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems_019eff99-e035-767b-8e8e-5a3144c0a4b8" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue_019eff99-e035-7cff-89aa-b315a41ee788" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentFairValueAndNavLineItems_019eff99-e035-767b-8e8e-5a3144c0a4b8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue_019eff99-e035-7cff-89aa-b315a41ee788" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://southerncompany.com/role/RelatedPartyandPartyInInterestTransactionsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#RelatedPartyandPartyInInterestTransactionsDetails"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://southerncompany.com/role/RelatedPartyandPartyInInterestTransactionsDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsAbstract_019eff99-e035-755c-87d2-4d4731f27504" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019eff99-e035-7802-9cc8-fb8dd09525ab" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsAbstract_019eff99-e035-755c-87d2-4d4731f27504" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019eff99-e035-7802-9cc8-fb8dd09525ab" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019eff99-e035-7dec-b8d0-1d99ac6b00ef" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019eff99-e035-7802-9cc8-fb8dd09525ab" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019eff99-e035-7dec-b8d0-1d99ac6b00ef" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019eff99-e035-712c-885d-2c5ceae639d1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019eff99-e035-7dec-b8d0-1d99ac6b00ef" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019eff99-e035-712c-885d-2c5ceae639d1" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerCommonStockMember_019eff99-e035-7009-bbd3-93e9230bfb3d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerCommonStockMember"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019eff99-e035-712c-885d-2c5ceae639d1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerCommonStockMember_019eff99-e035-7009-bbd3-93e9230bfb3d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7c56-a960-0216e77efad1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019eff99-e035-7802-9cc8-fb8dd09525ab" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7c56-a960-0216e77efad1" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-71b3-af47-8cc98f0e1d1b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-7c56-a960-0216e77efad1" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-71b3-af47-8cc98f0e1d1b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7b2b-b970-a6b78b6fcb3b" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-71b3-af47-8cc98f0e1d1b" xlink:to="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-7b2b-b970-a6b78b6fcb3b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019eff99-e035-7c57-9f9d-36a4068b95c4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsTable_019eff99-e035-7802-9cc8-fb8dd09525ab" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019eff99-e035-7c57-9f9d-36a4068b95c4" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentNumberOfShares_019eff99-e035-7d05-bc99-b288c6dca6a7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentNumberOfShares"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019eff99-e035-7c57-9f9d-36a4068b95c4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentNumberOfShares_019eff99-e035-7d05-bc99-b288c6dca6a7" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue_019eff99-e035-7f38-bf79-80d5c0256317" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019eff99-e035-7c57-9f9d-36a4068b95c4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustFairValue_019eff99-e035-7f38-bf79-80d5c0256317" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustCost_019eff99-e035-7716-a057-b8b7dbfafac4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustCost"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019eff99-e035-7c57-9f9d-36a4068b95c4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustCost_019eff99-e035-7716-a057-b8b7dbfafac4" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForDividendIncomeOnInvestment_019eff99-e035-7859-9aa2-e676b66b08ae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForDividendIncomeOnInvestment"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanRelatedPartyAndPartyInInterestTransactionsLineItems_019eff99-e035-7c57-9f9d-36a4068b95c4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForDividendIncomeOnInvestment_019eff99-e035-7859-9aa2-e676b66b08ae" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://southerncompany.com/role/ScheduleHLine4iScheduleofInvestmentsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#ScheduleHLine4iScheduleofInvestmentsDetails"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://southerncompany.com/role/ScheduleHLine4iScheduleofInvestmentsDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentAbstract_019eff99-e035-71b5-8014-e3e1345c954d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019eff99-e035-7a1a-b833-c075f56cad40" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentAbstract_019eff99-e035-71b5-8014-e3e1345c954d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019eff99-e035-7a1a-b833-c075f56cad40" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-725d-9c0b-e62554a3e952" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_LegalEntityAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019eff99-e035-7a1a-b833-c075f56cad40" xlink:to="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-725d-9c0b-e62554a3e952" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-75c3-bf6f-011b39cfa235" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_LegalEntityAxis_019eff99-e035-725d-9c0b-e62554a3e952" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-75c3-bf6f-011b39cfa235" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-77c6-b747-cd9b9dcefdea" xlink:href="so-20251231.xsd#so_EBP002Member"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_EntityDomain_019eff99-e035-75c3-bf6f-011b39cfa235" xlink:to="loc_so_EBP002Member_019eff99-e035-77c6-b747-cd9b9dcefdea" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentIdentifierAxis_019eff99-e035-7499-a860-7bd60ee21b2f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentIdentifierAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019eff99-e035-7a1a-b833-c075f56cad40" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentIdentifierAxis_019eff99-e035-7499-a860-7bd60ee21b2f" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019eff99-e035-7b65-aac3-a40d5d091507" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019eff99-e035-7a1a-b833-c075f56cad40" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019eff99-e035-7b65-aac3-a40d5d091507" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019eff99-e035-70cb-b208-686eb9cbee9b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis_019eff99-e035-7b65-aac3-a40d5d091507" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019eff99-e035-70cb-b208-686eb9cbee9b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_019eff99-e035-7e5b-bce8-f7208a628841" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019eff99-e035-70cb-b208-686eb9cbee9b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_019eff99-e035-7e5b-bce8-f7208a628841" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSelfDirectedBrokerageAccountMember_019eff99-e035-78f9-9ea2-b70a2014397f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSelfDirectedBrokerageAccountMember"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_InvestmentTypeCategorizationMember_019eff99-e035-70cb-b208-686eb9cbee9b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanSelfDirectedBrokerageAccountMember_019eff99-e035-78f9-9ea2-b70a2014397f" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019eff99-e035-7122-85fd-f892af47bc71" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019eff99-e035-7a1a-b833-c075f56cad40" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019eff99-e035-7122-85fd-f892af47bc71" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019eff99-e035-7772-9785-ec6a17c1f225" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019eff99-e035-7122-85fd-f892af47bc71" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019eff99-e035-7772-9785-ec6a17c1f225" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019eff99-e035-7111-80b5-1b6396ae9312" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019eff99-e035-7772-9785-ec6a17c1f225" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019eff99-e035-7111-80b5-1b6396ae9312" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019eff99-e035-7fc3-b35b-4e7a8904bf2b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MaximumMember"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019eff99-e035-7772-9785-ec6a17c1f225" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019eff99-e035-7fc3-b35b-4e7a8904bf2b" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019eff99-e035-7e1a-8009-5e76bf737769" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="5" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentTable_019eff99-e035-7a1a-b833-c075f56cad40" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019eff99-e035-7e1a-8009-5e76bf737769" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_019eff99-e035-7c5a-835d-44f8d73bb33f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2026/dei-2026.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019eff99-e035-7e1a-8009-5e76bf737769" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_019eff99-e035-7c5a-835d-44f8d73bb33f" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanPlanNumber_019eff99-e035-750e-ae1b-e07c78446fc1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanPlanNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019eff99-e035-7e1a-8009-5e76bf737769" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanPlanNumber_019eff99-e035-750e-ae1b-e07c78446fc1" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentInterestRate_019eff99-e035-71a2-b7a4-9e6a6c2bb15a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentInterestRate"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019eff99-e035-7e1a-8009-5e76bf737769" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanInvestmentInterestRate_019eff99-e035-71a2-b7a4-9e6a6c2bb15a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestmentInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustCurrentValue_019eff99-e035-7acf-87c4-cedf2b0908db" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/ebp/elts/us-gaap-ebp-2026.xsd#us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestmentInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustCurrentValue"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanScheduleOfAssetHeldForInvestmentLineItems_019eff99-e035-7e1a-8009-5e76bf737769" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanAssetHeldForInvestmentInvestmentExcludingPlanInterestInMasterTrustCurrentValue_019eff99-e035-7acf-87c4-cedf2b0908db" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/verboseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
